John B Drake Elementary School
CPS choice · PK,K-8
At a glance
Instruction was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages), and the school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Strong’ on the survey. 19% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025). In 2021–22, 8 applications were recorded for 7 offers (GoCPS, 2021–22 school year - the most recent seat data SchoolNav has).
- Cultural fit
- Family involvement was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 44% of students were chronically absent in 2025 - above what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic performance
- 18% of students met or exceeded standards on the 2025 IAR - in the lower quarter of CPS elementary schools with published results (ISBE Report Card 2025).
- Academic fit
- Instruction was rated ‘Very Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). On the 5Essentials survey, school leadership was rated ‘Strong’ and teacher collaboration was rated ‘Strong’.
- Social-emotional fit
- The school’s supportive environment was rated ‘Strong’ on the 5Essentials survey (5Essentials spring 2024 survey - benchmarked levels relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages). 19% of students with IEPs spend most of the school day in general classrooms - below what's typical for CPS elementary schools (ISBE Report Card 2025).
Computed from published data with its source and year on every clause - a description, never a grade.
Basics
CPS-published · verified Nov 2024
- Address
- 2710 S DEARBORN ST
- Neighborhood
- Douglas
- Phone
- (773)534-9129
- Hours
- Unknown - not verified yet
- Website
- https://drake.cps.edu
- Before and after care
Supplemental care not found.
SchoolNav searched the school’s website and the main care providers’ pages in Sep 2026 and found no before or after care. Some programs are never posted online, so ask the school office or on a tour.
- Arts and creative
Painting, Band/Orchestra, Fundamentals/Theory of Music, Student Art Club, Culinary Classes, Line Dancing, Dance, Guitar, Talent Show, Choir/Chorus, Mixed Media
From the school’s CPS profile, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Sports
Cheerleading, Football, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Volleyball, Pom-Pon, Boys' Track, Girls in the Game, Tennis, Boys' Basketball, Boys' Volleyball, Basketball, Dance, Kickball, Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Track, Softball, Volleyball
From the school’s CPS profile, for the 2026-27 school year. Checked Sep 2026. Offerings change each year, so confirm on a tour.
- Climate survey
- Involved families
- Strong
- Supportive environment
- Strong
- Ambitious instruction
- Very Strong
- Effective leaders
- Strong
- Collaborative teachers
- Strong
- Safety (student-reported)
- Weak
- Overall organization
- Well Organized
UChicago 5Essentials levels from the spring 2024 survey (CPS Progress Reports SY2425, verified 2026-09-25) - benchmarked categories relative to Illinois statewide, spring 2013, not percentages. A school can answer mostly positively and still rate below the benchmark typical.
5Essentials - the latest survey in detail
Collective Responsibility, Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools, and Instructional Leadership are rated above the CPS average; Math Instruction, Parent Involvement in School, and Safety are rated below it this year.
From the 2026 CPS 5Essentials survey (25-26). Scores are benchmarked 1–99 (not percentages) - higher is stronger, and each is shown against the CPS average that same year. This is a newer survey on a different benchmark than the component levels above, so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Show all measures ▸Hide measures ▾
Ambitious Instruction
56 ▬ about the CPS average (56)- Academic Press· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- English Instruction· students-reported58 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Math Instruction· students-reported44 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Quality of Student Discussion· teachers-reported68 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
Supportive Environment
52 ▬ about the CPS average (51)- Academic Personalism· students-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
- Peer Support for Academic Work· students-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- Safety· students-reported37 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- Student-Teacher Trust· students-reported53 ▬ about the CPS average (50)
Collaborative Teachers
63 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Collaborative Practices· teachers-reported50 ▼ below the CPS average (57)
- Collective Responsibility· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Quality Professional Development· teachers-reported75 ▲ above the CPS average (56)
- School Commitment· teachers-reported57 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Teacher-Teacher Trust· teachers-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (51)
Effective Leaders
69 ▲ above the CPS average (52)- Instructional Leadership· teachers-reported76 ▲ above the CPS average (55)
- Program Coherence· teachers-reported65 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Teacher Influence· teachers-reported64 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Teacher-Principal Trust· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
Involved Families
56 ▬ about the CPS average (53)- Parent Influence on Decision Making in Schools· teachers-reported80 ▲ above the CPS average (57)
- Parent Involvement in School· teachers-reported36 ▼ below the CPS average (49)
- Teacher-Parent Trust· teachers-reported51 ▬ about the CPS average (52)
Supplemental measures
Additional survey topics UChicago reports outside the five core measures.
- Academic Engagement· students-reported59 ▬ about the CPS average (57)
- Classroom Disruptions· teachers-reported53 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Classroom Rigor· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (53)
- Course Clarity· students-reported61 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Emotional Health· students-reported57 ▬ about the CPS average (55)
- Human & Social Resources in the Community· students-reported38 ▼ below the CPS average (47)
- Innovation· teachers-reported71 ▲ above the CPS average (52)
- Inquiry-Based Science Instruction· students-reported61 ▬ about the CPS average (59)
- Parent Supportiveness· students-reported52 ▲ above the CPS average (48)
- Reflective Dialogue· teachers-reported69 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Rigorous Study Habits· students-reported43 ▼ below the CPS average (48)
- School Connectedness· students-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
- School Safety· students-reported58 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Socialization of New Teachers· teachers-reported53 ▲ above the CPS average (47)
- Student Peer Relationships· students-reported59 ▲ above the CPS average (54)
- Student Responsibility· teachers-reported46 ▬ about the CPS average (47)
- Teacher Safety· teachers-reported54 ▬ about the CPS average (53)
UChicago Consortium — the 2026 cycle (school year 25-26) is re-benchmarked to spring 2024 (SY25+); it is NOT level-comparable to the spring-2013-benchmarked component levels shown elsewhere.
Pre-K
CPS-published· verified Sep 2026This school has Pre-K. Families apply for Pre-K through Chicago Early Learning, not GoCPS.
Full-day Pre-K · for children age 4
Seats: full, with a waitlist, as of Sep 24, 2026.
- Quality rating
- ExceleRate Gold Circle of Quality
Apply through Chicago Early Learning · How Pre-K applications work
Programs (1)
| Program | Entry grades | How seats are offered | Test required | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Open Enrollment (general program, seats by lottery) Open enrollment | K–8 | Lottery | No | CPS-published · verified Oct 2026 |
Local School Council
CPS-published· verified Oct 2026The Local School Council is a group of parents, staff, and neighbors who help run this school. They vote on the budget and the school plan. Their meetings are open to the public, so you can go and listen.
Next meetings
CPS has not posted any upcoming meetings for this council yet.
CPS lists the date and time. Ask the school office where the meeting will be held.
Members for 2026 to 2028
- Christopher Robbins · Principal
- Jayla Gardner · Parent
- Edwina Davis · Parent
- Alashaa Thomas · Parent
- Crystal Hicks · Parent
- Lynnita Coleman · Parent
- Marletta Farmer · Community member
- Natasha Garrett · Community member
- Kathryn Doyle · Teacher
- Nai Colton · Teacher
- Teresa LaGrone · School staff (non-teaching)
CPS keeps the official list of council meetings and members. See the CPS council list.
Parent questions & conversation
What parents and people who know this school are asking, answering, and talking about - their own words, experiences and opinions rather than verified facts.
Parent notes on this school are visible to signed-in Chicago families. Sign in to read and ask.
SchoolNav is not affiliated with CPS. Details change - each fact above shows when it was last verified. Application decisions should always be confirmed in GoCPS.